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Cathedrals & Cloisters Antigua Guatemala
10 Reviews The cathedral located at the east side of the Parque central dates from 1680 after the first one was demolished a few years before. It's certainly not the most beautifull church in town, but it's...
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Shopping Antigua Guatemala
3 Reviews If you go to Antigua, Guatemala, do not hesitate in buying some indian handcrafts. It is amazing how racist mexican population is. Despite our indian roots, we are taught since we are children, to...
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Colonial Architecture Antigua Guatemala
7 Reviews For a nice walk and look at buildings, wander round the streets behind the cathdral on the main square. This is where the nobility had their houses and although you can't go in many of them (some are...
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Ruins Antigua Guatemala
3 Reviews There's many ruins to look at in Antigua Guatemala, it's absolutely fantastic to see the contrast of colors and the rustic of 'em next to newly sprout bouganvilia flowers.... very common in Guatemala!...
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Santiago de Los Caballeros Antigua Guatemala
3 Reviews Antigua at its height was a very powerful and important city. Spain divided its conquests in the New World into three sections, and the part we now call Central America was all governed from the...
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El Parque Antigua Guatemala
2 Reviews Hang out in the central park and just watch the people. The park is full of vendors, locals, daytrippers from Guatamala city and foreigners on weekends. Fooling around with the vendors. Bargaining is...
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It is visible from the arch of Santa Rosa the vast devistation the the volcanic area can have on it's buildings. A friend of mine once said she was there for a week of Spanish study and was awakened by someone shaking her bed. Startled she woke up and was alone!
Visit Antigua, a beautiful old city which used to be the capital of Guatemala. The climate is perfect - it's close enough to the equator so it doesn't get too cold and high enough in the hills that it doesn't get too hot. The reason it's no longer the capial, however, is that it's extremely prone to earthquakes and has had several severe, disastrous quakes in the past and there were a couple of minor ones while I was there. Even though there are dozens of old colonial churches many of them are little more than ruins because of the earthquakes.
Like most of the third world, the markets of Guatemala are truly magnificent and it's easy to spend hours wandering through the markets observing the people and seeing the astounding variety of items for sale (I probably don't have to mention that the markets are colorful). The further you get from the main roads, the better.
go to Quetzaltenango. Conocida pópularmente como Chela. Ciudad situada a mas de 2,000m de altura. Normalmente es el lugar mas frio de Guatemala. Punto de partida a Zunil Pueblo de origen quiche y a las fuentes Georginas. Mas fotos en las travelogias.More photos in the trevelogue.
You absolutely must visit Antigua Guatemala and Panajachel. Many people think of Guatemala as only a 'National Geographic' type of country and town, when its also a cosmopolitan town. Antigua and 'pana' are great places to party! Having only about 15$ in my pocket and taking a trip to pana, staying at a 3$ hotel (the worst ever) and partying the night away at 'tresome'. One of the best night of my life!!!
visit our most important landmarks:- Maya Culture: Tikal- Spanish Culture: Antigua- Modern Times: Guatemala City- Fishing: Puerto San Jose- Sightseeing: Lake Atitlan- Folkclore: Chichicastenango, etc If I go abroad, what I missed more is the food and the landmarks like: Antigua, Atitlan, etc. Everything is very near so I can spent weekends in a variety of places with different climates and flora.
Chichicastenango is a place you should not miss...Called 'Siguan Tinamit' or 'the place surrounded by ravines' by the Quiché Maya, Chichicastengango means 'place of the nettles' in the Nahuatl language.The Santo Domingo Church was erected in 1540 on the ruins of a Mayan temple in an attempt to eradicate all traces of indigenous culture and extend colonial control over the area. The streets of Chichi are are steeped in the beliefs of its Quiché inhabitants...their creation story, Popol Vuh was discovered here at the beginning of the 18th century by a friar. You should visit the town either on Thursday or Sundays, which are the market days at the plaza. Indigenous merchants come from miles around the flock to sell produce, flowers, crafts and other stuff. Chichi is also a place to witness some rituals of the maya quiche culture...but remember to be very respectful...and try not to take...
My fondest memory in Guatemala was the day that we visited a church in Chichicastenango on 'El día de los muertos' (I don't know how to say it in Enligsh, but its the day of dead people (:) The indigenous families visit the church and bring chicha (a liquor made out of maiz), sugar, and rose petals. They spread it on the floor and start talking to their ancestors...telling them all what has happended during the last year, if someone married, if someone in the family is pregnant, or if somone is sick...I not only liked how they integrate their ancestors in their everyday life, but also I liked to see how, although indigenous people somehow assumed Christianity, they have not abbandoned their own beliefs and they've adapted Christianity to their own religion.
Go to Tikal. Absolutely superb. It's worth staying at Tikal itself for at least one night, rather than travelling for an hour to the nearest town. The colonial town of Antigua is lovely and it's worth spending a few days there. Also, go to Lake Atitlan to relax- almost everyone staying in the town gathers at the water front to watch sunset. Sunset from the top of Temple IV. Although walking back through the forest in the dark wasn't quite so pleasant an experience! Take a good torch.
I would definitely take people to Antigua or Lago Atitlan. It is absolutely beautiful! I miss the people...especially the natives. They may not have much but they always seem happy. They appreciate life.
Casa Santo Domingo Antigua Guatemala
19 Reviews and 205 Opinions An incredible atmosphere transports you to the colonial era, we provide everything that needs...
Jungle Lodge Parque Nacional Tikal
4 Reviews and 149 Opinions We stayed two nights here, choosing it because of its nearness to the ruins. The plan was to be able...
Posada Belen Museo Inn Guatemala City
2 Reviews and 119 Opinions I chose Posada de Belen as my accomodation for my first night in Guatemala City because of the the...
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Q: My husband and I want to go to Guatemala for 5 weeks starting the last week of March 2012. We had planned to travel all over and...
A: I have two good friends that travel to Guatemala frequently. One supports an orphanage, the other does general social work with kids in the area. Both find the...
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